Aerator head

ABSTRACT

An aerator head for injecting air below water with high turbulence and mixing efficiency. The head is in the form of a block containing internal ducts through which air is conducted from an inlet connection to a pair of outlet orifices directed toward each other across a slot in the block. Impact of the air streams against each other causes considerable turbulence and water circulation. In one form of the head, fins are fixed in spaced relation between the orifices, with openings to allow partial passage of the air through and between the fins for added mixing effect.

United States Patent [191 Sabins 1 AERATOR HEAD [75] Inventor: Rolland C. Sabins, Lakeside, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Saratoga Development Corporation,

San Diego, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 278,982

[52] US. Cl......, 261/123, 239/545 [51] Int. Cl 1301f 3/04 [58] Field of Search 261/123; 239/545 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,615 1/1899 Prinz 239/545 698,953 4/1902 l-lonts 261/124 2,636,473 4/1953 Schwartz et al.. 261/124 3,153,682 10/1964 Walker 261/124 3,162,702 12/1964 Yonner 261/123 3,675,855 2/1972 Harwood et al. 239/545 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,088,218 10/1967 Great Britain 261/123 June 25, 1974 398,114 Great Britain 261/123 1,139,491 2/1957 France 261/123 671,297 12/1929 France 239/545 1,508,575 11/1970 Germany 239/545 Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brown & Martin [57] ABSTRACT An aerator head for injecting air below water with high turbulence and mixing efficiency. The head is in the form of a block containing internal ducts through which air is conducted from an inlet connection to a pair of outlet orifices directed toward each other across a slot in the block. Impact of the air streams against each other causes considerable turbulence and water circulation. In one form of the head, fins are fixed in spaced relation between the orifices, with openings to allow partial passage of the air through and between the fins for added mixing effect.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AERATOR HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Aerators for use in aquariums, pools, water treatment apparatus and the like usually have air bubbling from a single nozzle, or from multiple perforations in a manifold. Air pressure is normally low and the streams of bubbles do not cause sufficient circulation of water for effective aeration of a large volume. High pressure types create rapid but rather localized disturbence, and some types of mixing nozzles tend to clog easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aerator head described herein is capable of operation over a wide range of flow rates to provide effective aeration of a large volume of water by a turbulent mixing action. The same configuration can be used for gentle mixing in an aquarium, or for violent mixing in a water treatment system containing solids in suspension, such as sand. In simple form the head is a block with means for connection to an air supply, the block containing ducts which lead to a pair of orifices facing each other across a gap or slot. The two streams of air ejected from the orifices impinge in the slot and spread in all directions in a turbulent manner. The extent of the turbulence depends on the flow rate of air, but even at a low flow rate, the air is distributed through a considerable volume of water.

In one form, plates or fins are spaced across the slot and have openings aligned with the orifices to admit air through and between the plates for added agitation. The channels between the fins are easily cleaned out but, when clogging may be a problem, the fins can be omitted.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved aerator head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved aerator head in which impinging streams of air from opposed orifices create turbulence for optimum mixing effect..

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved aerator head of simple unitary structure which is adaptable to a wide range of flow rates and uses.

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description together with an examination of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aerator head.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view with portions cut away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially cut away, of an alternative form of the head with an unobstructed slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The head comprises a substantially rectangular block 10, having an enlarged upper portion 12 with flanges 14 along opposite sides to facilitate mounting. The exact configuration is not critical and may be made to suit a specific installation. In the lower portion of block 10 is a wide slot 16, open at the lower end and making the block into an inverted U-shaped configuration. A plurality of flat plate-like fins 18 extend across the slot 16 in spaced relation and parallel to the opposed end faces 20 and 22 of the slot.

In the top of upper portion 12 is an inlet 24, having a threaded socket 26 to receive an air supply pipe 28. Inlet 24 connects with a longitudinal bore or duct 30 within the block, from which vertical ducts 32 and 34 extend downwardly near opposite ends of the block. From duct 32 an outlet orifice 36 opens through end face 20, and a similar outlet orifice 38 opens from duct 34 through end face 22. Orifices 36 and 38 are axially aligned and fins 18 have openings 40 also axially aligned with the orifices. The entire head, including the fins, can be machined, molded, or otherwise formed from a single block of material.

When pressurized air is supplied through pipe 28 and through ducts 30, 32 and 34, the streams of air ejected from opposed orifices 36 and 38 impinge in the slot 16. Openings 40 are approximately of the same size as the orifices, so that with normal spreading of the air streams, some air will pass through each opening and some will be deflected outwardly by each fin, as in FIG. 4. The air thus passes through openings 40 and escapes through channels 42 between the fins 18. The result is a very turbulent flow spreading in all directions from the head, since the channels 42 open to both sides and the bottom of slot 16. Air is distributed through a considerable volume of water and a general circulation is induced around the head. The fins 18 have the effect of breaking up and spreading the air flow by impingement on multiple surfaces.

For some uses, in which the water may contain solid material such as sand, the channels 42 may tend to become clogged. In such an instance, the modified head 44, illustrated in FIG. 5, may be used. The internal duct arrangement and orifices are as described above and are correspondingly numbered. However, the fins are omitted, leaving a fully open slot 46. Air streams from the opposed orifices impinge directly in the center of said block having a pair of opposed air ejecting orifices in said end faces directed toward each other,

an inlet in said block with means for connection to an air supply,

duct means in said block connecting said inlet to both of said orifices,

a plurality of air deflecting fins: fixed in said slot in spaced parallel relation and substantially parallel to said end faces,

and said fins having openings thereon for passage of air.

block is substantially rectangular, said slot extending through the block and opening to one side thereof.

5. An aerator head according to claim 4, wherein said fins have channels therebetween opening to three sides of the block. 

1. An aerator head, comprising: a block having an open slot with opposed end faces, said block having a pair of opposed air ejecting orifices in said end faces directed toward each other, an inlet in said block with means for connection to an air supply, duct means in said block connecting said inlet to both of said orifices, a plurality of air deflecting fins fixed in said slot in spaced parallel relation and substantially parallel to said end faces, and said fins having openings thereon for passage of air.
 2. An aerator head according to claim 1, wherein said orifices and said openings are all axially aligned.
 3. An aerator head according to claim 2, wherein said orifices and said openings are substantially equal in size.
 4. An aerator head according to claim 1, wherein said block is substantially rectangular, said slot extending through the block and opening to one side thereof.
 5. An aerator head according to claim 4, wherein said fins have channels therebetween opening to three sides of the block. 